2014 Apple Cup schedule: UW vs. WSU rivalry moves back to Saturday - CougCenter CougCenter Rec William Mancebo The Apple Cup will be moving back to Saturday in 2014, according to Bud Withers of the Seattle Times . The annual game between UW and WSU is scheduled for Nov. 29 in Pullman, two days after Thanksgiving. The time will come later when TV schedules are set. The previous two editions of the Apple Cup had been played on Black Friday, much to the chagrin of fans on both sides. Mike Leach's first season, 2012, also brought with it the Pac-12 Networks and the promise of television broadcasts for every conference football game. That promise requires some creative scheduling, with more league games played on Thursday nights and rivalry games moving to Black Friday, including the Apple Cup. There was much concern over the Black Friday gameday, but the paid attendance still reached 30,554 for that 2012 edition, which will be more remembered for WSU's 18-point fourth-quarter comeback than the date on which it was played. But the Apple Cup moving back to Saturday is better.

The students will be more likely to come back early for the game, and the Alumni won't have to make the decision between waking up early and driving across the state or spending the night in Pullman for Thanksgiving. Colorado Buffaloes @ Washington State Cougars 1:00 PM - Wallis Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum - Pullman, WA Wed Feb 1 UCLA Bruins @ Washington State Cougars 6:00 PM - Wallis Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum - Pullman, WA Another tarnished Cup | The Spokesman-Review Another tarnished Cup Apple Cup: 3:30 p.m. TV: FSN Inside Apple Cup matchups, facts and figures/C7 Idaho goes for eighth win when Utah State visits Kibbie Dome/C7 3 reasons to read additional coverage of Washington State University football at spokesman.com/blogs/ sportslink 1 Looking at the season’s final game and the Husky Stadium scene. 2 A last check of the Cougars’ health. The other games around the Pac-10.

SEATTLE – The 102nd version of the Apple Cup – for the uninitiated, the annual rivalry football game between Washington State University and the University of Washington – will take place this afternoon in Seattle. And for the second consecutive year it will match two of the nation’s poorest teams, if records and statistics mean anything. In the challenger corner is WSU, 1-10 overall and winless after eight Pac-10 games. Out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools, the top echelon of college football, the Cougars are in the bottom 10 in 11 of the 17 major statistical categories the NCAA keeps. The home Huskies, who were winless last season, including a 16-13 double-overtime Apple Cup defeat in Pullman, are better at 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the Pac-10. Washington is in the bottom 10 of the NCAA statistics in just one category – kickoff returns – but is in the bottom 20 in three more, including total defense. But UW has one weapon the Cougars have a tough time matching: quarterback Jake Locker.

“Jake Locker obviously spearheads all of (their offense),” WSU coach Paul Wulff said this week. “It starts with him in the run and pass game.” A broken thumb kept Locker out of last year’s Apple Cup, but the redshirt junior did some damage the year before. That’s when WSU invaded Husky Stadium and came away with a 42-35 victory before 72,888 fans. Locker was overshadowed that day by Alex Brink, who threw for 399 yards and five touchdowns, including the game-winner to Brandon Gibson with less than a minute left. But the Husky freshman still ran for 103 yards and threw for another 223, though he struggled with his accuracy, hitting just 12 of 35 throws. Maybe that’s why he’s downplaying the significance of today’s game. “To the players, to all of us, it’s just another game,” Locker said. “It is the Apple Cup and it has that added excitement to it.

“But once you put the pads on and step on the field, it’s you against them, just like every other game on the schedule.” Locker should do better in this one, even if he doesn’t think it’s that big a deal. He’s improved his accuracy, completing 56.9 percent of his passes, and the Cougar defense gives up 282.8 yards a game through the air. “He concerns everybody they face,” Wulff said. “I know for them, it hurt a ton for him to not be able to play last year after he got hurt. It really affected their team overall. “Whenever he’s on the field, he always gives that team, whoever he’s playing for, a chance to win. He’s that kind of player and impact guy.” Unless WSU can contain Locker, any chance for securing a third consecutive win in this rivalry – something WSU has never done – would seem to be poor at best. Published: Nov.

28, 2009, midnight Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, Academics, Admissions, Faculty, Athletics Washington State University Visit Washington State University | Contact Administration Washington State University (WSU) is a major public research university in Pullman, Washington. The state's land-grant university, WSU has a mission of teaching, research and public service, and offers more than 250 fields of study. It is one of 96 public and private universities in America with "very high research activity," as determined by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The flagship campus in Pullman is located on the eastern border of the state in the Palouse region. There are regional campuses in Vancouver (WSU Vancouver), Spokane (WSU Spokane), and the Tri-Cities (WSU Tri-Cities). The student population is 23,000 statewide.

Founded in Pullman on March 28, 1890 and opened on January 13, 1892 as the state's land-grant college, the school changed names from the Washington Agricultural College and School of Science to the State College of Washington in 1905, and, subsequently, in 1959 to Washington State University. As a land-grant institution, the university has been entrusted by the state of Washington with 190,000 acres (769 km²) of land for agricultural and scientific research throughout the Pacific Northwest. The first influential president was E.A. Bryan, appointed July 22, 1893. Previously the president of Vincennes University in Indiana, he had graduate degrees from Harvard and Columbia. Bryan ensured the institution offered a balance of the liberal arts and sciences with practical education in fields such as agriculture and engineering. WSU's role as a statewide institution became clear in 1894 with the launch of its first Agricultural Experiment Station west of the Cascade Mountains near Puyallup. Extension offices and research centers have been established in all parts of the state.

WSU's regional campuses in Spokane, Tri-Cities and Vancouver were officially created by the Legislature in 1989. Regents Washington State University is chartered by the State of Washington. A Board of Regents governs the university and provides direction to the President. There are ten regents, each appointed by the state governor. One of the regents is a student who is nominated by the student body, appointed by the governor, and serves one year. Currently the regents are Kenneth Alhadeff, Ted Baseler, Elizabeth Cowles, Francois Forgette, Laura Jennings, Joe King, Kyle Smith (student), Chris Marr, Connie Niva, and V. Rafael Stone. Administration The President, currently V. Lane Rawlins, serves as the chief executive officer. In July 2006 he announced his retirement for June 2007. The Provost, currently Robert C. Bates, handles academics, research and faculty matters for WSU statewide. Bates also is Executive Vice President for the Pullman campus. WSU Foundation The WSU Foundation is an independent, private corporation with its own Board of Trustees and President that serves as a fundraising organization for the university.

Currently the President is Len Jessup and the Board Co-Chairs are Mark & Pat Suwyn. Alumni Association The WSU Alumni Association is also an independent body with a Board of Directors and President. The directors are leaders of regional alumni groups called districts. The Association's mission is "Encouraging excellence to enhance the quality and global recognition of WSU, Supporting Scholarships to help students attain a WSU education, and Making Connections to connect back to WSU through services and programs for alumni and friends." The Association hosts numerous socials and networking events for alumni in addition to sponsoring many on-campus activities. WSU University Relations also provides support for the Association through the Office of Alumni Relations. The current Executive Director of Alumni Relations is Tim Pavish, and the Board President is Larry Arcia. Two student body organizations represent the students: the Associated Students of Washington State University (ASWSU) and the Graduate & Professional Students' Association (GPSA). ASWSU's organizational framework is similar to that of most American governments complete with an appointed and confirmed judiciary, elected representatives (from districts) to a senate, and an annually elected president & vice-president team.

The president also has a paid staff ranging in size from 6-12 members depending on the year. As of 2005, the ASWSU president had the distinction of being the highest paid student body president at a public university at $22,000 per year. GPSA is similarly structured. Because of the smaller population of graduate students, and their relatively greater occupation in academic pursuits, GPSA is less active and less influential. Besides ASWSU, there are several other influential student organizations. The Residence Hall Association is a government body for students in the residence halls. Interfraternity Council, Panhellenic Council, and Greek Presidents' Council are government bodies for university-recognized Greek social houses. The Greek system has traditionally been the most powerful voting block in determining ASWSU elections. The Board of Directors of the Students' Book Corporation oversees the non-profit campus bookstore with over $17 million in annual revenue that donates all profits back to WSU students. The Compton Union Board oversees the management of the student union building and its services. The University Recreation Board oversees the management of university recreation. The ASWSU Student Entertainment Board brings in high-profile speakers and musicians to campus.

The Student Alumni Connection hosts several major campus events. The Student Services & Activities Fees Committee disperses over $6 million annually from a student-imposed fee to student events and programs. Recently, the student body has completed several major projects on campus. In addition to passing a $15 transportation fee to support Pullman Transit, the student body also voted to remodel the Compton Union Building. The building will close in May of 2006 and reopen in August 2008. In March of 2006, the student body voted to renovate Martin Stadium, adding a $25 per semester increase. WSU Extension has offices in each of Washington's 39 counties, providing training and assistance in agricultural practices, natural resource management, human and life skills, diversity understanding & outreach, the state 4-H program, and many other program areas. WSU Extension faculty and staff have also provided assistance for programs in undeveloped and developing countries. Many faculty members have appointments to do research, teach, and provide extension services.

WSU Libraries is a centralized administration of seven significant libraries on WSU's Pullman campus (Architecture, Brain Education, Fischer Agricultural Sciences, Health Sciences, Holland/Terrell, Manuscripts Archives & Special Collections, Owen Science & Engineering), five minor libraries on the Pullman campus (GLBA, Heritage House, Human Relations & Diversity, Music, Women's Resource Center), and five significant libraries off the Pullman campus (Betty M. Anderson, WSU Energy Program, WSU Spokane, WSU Tri-Cities, WSU Vancouver). WSU Libraries also participates in a consortium with 33 other libraries in an inter-library loan system. The WSU Museum of Art has several permanent collections including the Holland Collection, Orton Collection, Goya and Daumier Collections, Chaplin Woodcuts, Consortium Collections, Meyer Shapiro Print Collection, and Elwood Collection. Other permanent collections contain works by Northwest artists D. Griffin, Mark Tobey, Kenneth Callahan, Margaret Tomkins and former faculty members from WSU and the University of Washington.

Several other collections and museums also exist on the Pullman campus and include the Connor Museum of Natural History, Culver Collection (petrified pre-historic animals), Jacklin Collection of Silicified Wood & Minerals, McCaw Fluorescent Mineral Display, and Museum of Anthropology. Varsity athletics Washington State University is a member of the Pac-10 athletic conference. The school's mascot is "Butch T. Coug" and the school's colors are crimson and gray. Varsity athletics include men's baseball, basketball, cross country, football, golf, and track and field, as well as women's basketball, cross country, golf, rowing, soccer, swimming, softball, volleyball, tennis, and track and field. In the past WSU had varsity programs of boxing, wrestling, and gymnastics. In 1937, Roy Petragallo and Ed McKinnon won the NCAA boxing championship, WSU's first national championship.

Sport clubs University Recreation also supports 26 club sports, including bowling, men's crew, cricket, cycling, equestrian show team, men's and women's flag football, fencing, polo, men's and women's ice hockey, judo, men's lacrosse, logger sports, rodeo, men's rugby, sailing, ski team, men's soccer, women's fast-pitch softball, tae kwon do, triathlon, Ultimate, men's and women's volleyball, water polo and wrestling. Most popular sports The most popular sporting events at Washington State are football games. Over the past five years, the Cougar football teams have been distinguished by three ten win seasons, three top ten poll rankings, and bowl game appearances (a Sun Bowl win in 2001 over Purdue University, a Rose Bowl loss the following season to the University of Oklahoma, and a Holiday Bowl win in 2003 over the University of Texas at Austin and future NFL QB Vince Young). The Cougars shared the Pac-10 title in 2002. Much to the dismay of Washington State fans, those three seasons were marred by losses to their archrival, the University of Washington Huskies.

Over the last two seasons, the Cougars have stumbled to a disappointing record of 9-13, but have managed to defeat the Huskies both years. The Cougars are coached by Bill Doba. Men's basketball is the second-most popular sport. The 1990s saw a major decline in support as the team floundered, however, there have been signs of a resurgence under the coaching of Dick Bennett who retired at the end of the 2005-2006 season. Tony Bennett, Dick's son, succeeds his father to become the Cougars 16th head coach. Tony Bennett spent the last three seasons at WSU, including last two as associate head coach. The 2004-2005 season saw a large increase in student support as the team finished within a few wins of a .500 record (along with a stunning upset win at eventual Elite Eight team Arizona). The Cougar basketball team holds the dubious record of participating in the lowest scoring championship basketball game in Division 1 history, losing to the University of Wisconsin 39-34 in the 1941 National Championship game. The Cougar Women's volleyball team has a cult following.

Residents of the all-male dormitory Stimson Hall known as the "Super Fans" attend every game in crimson shirts that spell "Superfans" on the front and "In Your Head" on the back. The Super Fans occupy the front rows of the stands and are notoriously rowdy, jeering heavily towards every opponent. It is rumored the WSU head coach sends advanced notice to the Super Fans as to who the key players are in the upcoming matches. Baseball was also popular during the Buck Bailey and Bobo Brayton eras when WSU was a powerhouse of the Pac-10. The 2006 season has been the most successful campaign since the eighties, as the Cougars were ranked as high as 28th in the nation after winning the series against Stanford the weekend of March 26th, 2006. Another popular program is track and field, which has given WSU one of its two national championships. Rivalries Washington State's biggest rival is the University of Washington Huskies.

Arguably, the most important athletic contest for both schools is the Apple Cup: the annual game that pits the Cougars and Huskies against each other, and is traditionally held on the third Saturday of November. WSU owns an all-time record of 28-63-6 against UW, but has held the trophy for two consecutive years (2004 & 2005). As the two main public universities in the state, WSU and UW have a natural geographic rivalry--complete with a fierce bitterness that dates back over 100 years. As legend has it, UW stole WSU's stuffed cougar several times between 1917 and 1927. One year, UW paraded with the prized possession around Husky Stadium in front of the Cougar Section at the Apple Cup. The WSU students could not tolerate this mockery and a brawl ensued, destroying the cat in the process. As a result, the WSU Intercollegiate Knights were formed to care over the mascot more dutifully. Strong rivalries also exist between WSU and the other Pac-10 teams of the Pacific Northwest: the University of Oregon Ducks and Oregon State University Beavers.

Competition between the schools in football has been very competitive over the years, as the Cougars hold a 46-41-3 advantage in the series against OSU and trail UO by a tally of 37-39-7. WSU’s closest geographic rival is the University of Idaho, a land-grant school only eight miles away in Moscow, Idaho. The “Battle of the Palouse,” which is the annual football game between the two universities held at Martin Stadium in Pullman, has encouraged some creative activities between the schools. Starting in the 1910s, the student body of the losing school would walk the eight miles between the towns. This now is done in a shared spirit between the WSU Student Alumni Connection & UI Student Alumni Relations Board, as they relay the game football from Moscow to Pullman before the start of the game. The student body presidents have recently stoked the rivalry by making bets, such as the president at the losing school having to shave his/her head.

The editors of the student newspapers have also gotten in on the action, making unique bets, which have even involved marriage (WSU can afford to make more outlandish bets as it holds a 67-17-3 lead in the all-time series). 1915 Football National Championship Recently there has been a case made about Washington State's claim to the 1915 National Championship. The legendary Washington State Warriors that won the 1915 Rose Bowl finishing 10-0 and outscoring its opponents 204-10 was in fact one of three teams that went undefeated that year, the other two being Cornell University (currently recognized as the 1915 champions) and the University of Pittsburgh. In 1915 Washington State College was awarded the opportunity to play in Rose Bowl and was set to play Brown University, which had lost only one game, to Harvard University (who in turn lost to Cornell 10-0) by a score of 16-7. Cornell and Pitt at that time were busy bickering over where the site of their football game would take place and eventually the season had come to an end before a decision could be made.

Washington State wound up beating Brown in the Rose Bowl 14-0 which garnered huge headlines around the country at that time. However a 1915 national championship was never awarded until 1935 when a Princeton University graduate submitted the first national polling of that season, quite disputed because in previous seasons he claimed that Princeton had won 22 National championships before 1933. However the poll was acknowledged and Cornell was given the championship twenty years after the 1915 season. Recently experts have come up with ground breaking evidence that could include Washington State in that circle of National Champions. One example is that a comparison of points scored between teams Washington State played and teams Cornell played (some of which played each other in the post season) actually favors Washington State. Another was that fact while Cornell and Pittsburgh never actually played a post season together, Washington State did in fact play a powerhouse East Coast team and defeated them soundly. If the claim is acknowledged by the University and/or the media Washington State will not only have received its first National championship but will have become the first team to have won the National Championship and the Rose Bowl in the same year.

Colors The first school colors were pink and blue, said to be chosen by the first WSU President when he was so in awe of the blue and pink sunsets of the Palouse. Research has not uncovered the exact date when the official colors changed, although Crimson and Gray are thought to have been the colors by 1916, when the then-WSC "Warriors" won the first annual Rose Bowl. Cougar mascot The first mascot was a terrier named "Squirt". It is believed the terrier was selected because someone brought their pet dog to campus. The mascot became the Indians during the decade (1910-1919) called the "Carlisle Connection". Three football coaches arrive from the famous Carlisle Indian College in Pennsylvania: Frank Shivley, William "Lone Star" Dietz and Gus Welch. Following the first football game between WSC and California in 1919 (WSC beat the Cal Bears 14-0), an Oakland cartoonist portrayed the Washington State team as fierce Northwest cougars chasing the defeated Golden Bears. A few days later, on October 28, WSC students officially designated "Cougars" as their team mascot.

In 1927 during the Homecoming football game against the University of Idaho, Washington State Governor Roland H. Hartley presented a cougar cub to the WSU students. Butch was originally to be called "Governor Hartley," in honor of its donor. The governor gracefully declined and suggested the name "Butch," in honor of Herbert "Butch" Meeker of Spokane, who was WSU's gridiron football star at the time. Governor Clarence D. Martin presented Butch II to the student body in 1938. Butch III and IV were twin cubs presented by Governor Arthur B. Langlie in January 1942. Governor Langlie also presented Butch V in 1955. Butch VI, the last live mascot on campus, died in the summer of 1978. Governor Albert Rosellini had presented him to WSU in 1964 from Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo. Today, the mascot is a student wearing a cougar mascot costume. The student playing the mascot is anonymous; their identity only revealed after their last big event, usually the last home basketball game of the season.

Herbert "Butch" Meeker As not too many mascots are named after students, this is of special note. Butch, was a stand-out football player in high school in Spokane, but he wasn't getting much attention from college football recruiters. So his high school coach gave a call into the University of Washington. UW declined to offer Butch a spot on the team, citing his small size. However, WSC did. Butch became the star of the team and an All-American. In his senior year of 1927, the 5-foot-5, 145-pound halfback led the football team to a successful 6-1 season. Most importantly, he scored the winning touchdown against UW. Butch was also Student Body Vice President and a member of Crimson Circle, the prestigious senior men's honorary. Football touchdown traditions After every Cougars touchdown, a cannon operated by the ROTC fires a blank off the Compton Union Building and the cheerleaders do a pushup for each point in the cumulative score. Victory Bell In the late 1800's the bell was mounted on the ground in the center of campus to start and dismiss class.

Later, it was placed on top of Old College Hall when automatic bells were used, and then on Bryan Hall. The bell was first rung in victory after WSC beat the Washington Huskies by the women's basketball team in 1902. Later, the members of the Intercollegiate Knights rang the bell following a football win. It was subsequently moved to the present College Hall, and now rests on the west side of the Alumni Centre where it is rung by the Student Alumni Connection after each football win. Wazzu Wazzu is a nickname for Washington State University. The term is an attempt to pronounce the University's acronym, WSU, as a single word. In 2002, then new University President V. Lane Rawlins sought to reduce use of "Wazzu," a move which carried some weight as the University owns the trademark. Following a firestorm of protest from students and alumni, the effort faded, though as of 2004 the word "Wazzu" is noticeably absent from Cougar uniforms and printed WSU publications. The term was thought to have strong connotations with WSU's reputation as a "party school", a reputation that Dr.

Rawlins has been working to change, very unsuccessfully, during his term as University President. WSU remains a top party school. Palouse Walk The Palouse Walk tradition started when the sports editor of the Argonaut, the U of I student newspaper, challenged the Evergreen's editor Lloyd Salt. The challenge was that the person would have to walk the eight miles to the winner's campus if their team lost. The Cougars won and McGowan walked the eight miles to WSU. The Idaho Walk lasted through until the 1974 football season. The Cougars only walked three times in that 36-year span. Intercollegiate Knights Intercollegiate Knights was a selective organization of men in the junior class that existed from the early 1920s to the 1960s. Two stuffed cougars served as mascots between 1919 and 1927. They were the target of several attempted cat-nappings so the "Cougar Guard" was formed to protect them. The group eventually became the Cougar Guard Chapter of Intercollegiate Knights.

Senior Bench A gift from the Class of 1910, the Senior Bench is adjacent to yet another WSU tradition, "Hello Walk." Only WSU seniors were allowed to sit on the bench. Any other students observed occupying it were subject to discipline by the Student Vigilante Committee. Green beanies In 1922, freshman had to go through a rite of passage to be accepted by the rest of the campus. According to the May 20, 1922 Daily Evergreen, freshmen had to accomplish three tasks to "bask favorably in the public eye." They had to paint their class numerals on a 100-foot tall chimney known as the "totem pole," though the Sophomore Class would try to thwart their efforts. The second trial involved meeting the Sophomore Class for midnight combat. The losers were thrown into Silver Lake, a man-made lake located where the Field house stands today. And finally, an official, "lawfully regulated" contest of some sort between the same two classes was held. The freshmen were then obliged to wear their green caps the Monday following registration, rain or shine.

On Campus Day, held in May, the freshmen rid themselves of the hats by way of incinerating them in "frosh-fire." Cougar Gold The WSU Creamery has also garnered a reputation for fine dairy products, most notably the Cougar Gold Cheese sold at the Creamery store as well as available for online purchases. The cheese is regionally famous and fetches the price of $18 for a 30 oz can. Marketed as, "a white, sharp cheddar with a taste that resembles Swiss or Gouda. Aged for at least one year." The cheese also comes in various flavors, including, American and Smokey Cheddar, Viking, Dill Garlic, Sweet Basil, Hot Pepper and Crimson Fire. Presence on ESPN College GameDay The popular ESPN College GameDay program has as of 2006 never broadcasted from WSU. An unofficial, but well organized effort to place the WSU flag in view of the GameDay cameras for every broadcast has been acknowledged by the GameDay crew, but the show still has no plans to broadcast from Pullman. Only a few more hours to Apple Cup | The Spokesman-Review Only a few more hours to Apple Cup FRIDAY, NOV.

27, 2009, 8:45 P.M. Only a few more hours to Apple Cup Reddit COUGARS As I wait for the box score from WSU's 78-69 win over Nicholls State in the Great Alaska Shootout, I guess I can pass along the unedited versions of my Apple Cup game advance and the game-day items. To think, these are the final ones for the year. Read on. •••••••••• • Here's our advance ... SEATTLE – The 102nd version of the Apple Cup – for the uninitiated, the annual rivalry football game between Washington State University and the University of Washington – will take place this afternoon in Seattle. And for the second consecutive year it will match two of the nation's poorest teams, if record and statistics mean anything. In the challenger corner is WSU, 1-10 overall and winless after eight Pac-10 games. Out of 120 Football Bowl Subdivision schools, the top echelon of college football, the Cougars are in the bottom 10 in 11 of he 17 major statistical categories the NCAA keeps.

The home Huskies, which were winless last season including a 16-13 double-overtime Apple Cup defeat in Pullman, are better at 3-7 overall and 2-5 in the Pac-10. Washington is in the bottom 10 of the NCAA statistics in just one category – kickoff returns – but is in the bottom 20 in three more, including total defense. But UW has one weapon the Cougars have a tough time matching: quarterback Jake Locker. "Jake Locker obviously spearheads all of (their offense)," said WSU coach Paul Wulff this week. "It starts with him in the run and pass game." A broken thumb kept Locker out of last year's Apple Cup, but the redshirt junior did some damage the year before. That's when WSU invaded Husky Stadium and came away with a 42-35 victory before 72,888. Locker was overshadowed that day by Alex Brink, who threw for 399 yards and five touchdowns, including the game-winner to Brandon Gibson with less than a minute left.

But the Husky freshman still ran for 103 yards and threw for another 223, though he struggled with his accuracy, hitting just 12 of 35 throws. Maybe that's why he'd downplaying the significance of today's game. "To the players, to all of us, it's just another game," Locker said. "It is the Apple Cup and it has that added excitement to it. "But once you put the pads on and step on the field, it's you against them, just like every other game on the schedule." Locker should do better in this one, even if he doesn’t think it's that big a deal. He's improved his accuracy, completing 56.9 percent of his passes, and the Cougar defense gives up 282.8 yards a game through the air. "He concerns everybody they face," Wulff said. "I know for them, it hurt a ton for him to not be able to play last year after he got hurt. It really affected their team overall. "Whenever he's on the field, he always gives that team, whoever he's playing for, a chance to win.

He's that kind of player and impact guy." Unless WSU can contain Locker, any chance for securing a third consecutive win in this rivalry – something WSU has never done – would seem to be poor at best. ••• • And here are the game-day items ... WSU game day Kickoff: 3:30 p.m. (PST), Husky Stadium TV: FSN Record: 0-8 Pac-10, 1-10 Overall Coach: Paul Wulff, second season Washington Huskies Record: 2-5 Pac-10, 3-7 Overall Coach: Steve Sarkisian, first season • Trends WSU 16, UW 13 (2 OT) Last week: WSU lost to Oregon State, 42-10 Washington had a bye; lost to Oregon State 48-21, Nov. 14 Series: Washington leads 64-31-6 • Matchups When the Cougars run: This is a case of the resistible force meeting a moveable object. The UW run defense is the Pac-10's second worst, only better than the Cougars.

But the WSU running game is the conference's worst by far. The Cougars will try to run like they did last year, which was highlighted by Logwone Mitz's 57-yard touchdown. This will mark the final game for WSU's Dwight Tardy, who will become the first Cougar to lead them in rushing for four consecutive years. EDGE: UW When the Cougars pass: The WSU passing game has moved the ball in fits and starts all season. Using three quarterbacks has something to do with it, young receivers have something to do with it and 10 different starting combinations on the line have something to do with it. But it has come together recently, and the Huskies are giving up more than 250 yards a game. If there is a chance for the Cougars to move the ball today, this should be it. EDGE: WSU When the Huskies run: Expect Chris Polk and Jake Locker to find at least some open lanes today. Polk is on the verge of becoming the first UW freshman to rush for 1,000 yards and Locker is one of the most physical running quarterbacks in the nation.

The WSU front, which played a 3-4 all last week due to injuries, has to fly around and try to limit the Huskies to at least their season average of 3.9 yards a carry. There could be at tackle returning, Bernard Wolfgramm, for WSU this week. EDGE: UW When the Huskies pass: They shouldn't have too much trouble moving the ball. Not only is Locker throwing the ball much more accurately this season, completing 56.9 percent of his throws, UW's pass offense is more sophisticated and efficient. The Huskies are third in the conference in passing yardage. They will be facing the Pac-10's most porous pass defense, one that has been clear-cut by injuries. Two offensive players, Easton Johnson and Colin Huemmer, have been moved to defense. Starting safety Chima Nwachukwu (ankle) should be back in a reserve role. EDGE: UW Coaching/intangibles: This is the Apple Cup. Emotions should run high on both sides, unlike last season when the Huskies seemed to be a bit sluggish.

But the home-field advantage should also be huge today on what is predicted to be a cool, wet day. The Huskies have not won a home Apple Cup since 2002, and that took three overtimes. A loss to 1-10 WSU this year would have numerous negative effects, including stunting whatever momentum has been built in Steve Saskisian's first season. EDGE: UW Recent history: This is a series historically dominated by the Huskies. There was a stretch in the late 1950s and early '60s in which UW won eight consecutive games. It matched that streak during the '70s and early '80s. And the Huskies won six straight from 1998 to 2003. But the Cougars are on their best-ever roll in the rivalry, having won four of the last five. That's a first for WSU, which has never won three consecutive games in this series. EDGE: WSU • 3 things to watch Keys to today's Washington State-Washington matchup 1. The emotions: There's nothing wrong with playing with emotion.

But sometimes, especially for inexperienced teams, it can be hard to master them and turn them into a positive. Keep an eye out for false starts on offense, offsides on defense and illegal blocks on special teams. All are signs of overactive emotions. Whichever team first harnesses the power of their passions and uses it to explode around the field will have a decided edge. 2. The first quarter: Patrick Rooney's field goal last week doubled the number of points WSU has scored in the first quarter this season. After 11 games, the tally stands at 173-6. The Cougars also ground out three first downs, giving them 17 in the opening quarter this season. Really, WSU hasn't had a decent start since the opener with Stanford. The Huskies, on the other hand, have been outscored by just 16 points in the opening quarter of their 10 games. If UW jumps out early and WSU has to play from behind once again, it could turn into a long day. 3. Jake Locker's feet: The Huskies' quarterback doesn't run nearly as often or as effectively as he did his first year.

But he hasn't gotten hurt as he did his sophomore season. And that was part of the plan for first-year coach Steve Sarkisian. Turn Locker into a pro-style quarterback in a pro-style offense and keep him under center all season. But with just a home game with Cal left after Saturday, Locker should feel free to take off when it's needed, to run with abandon. That's been tough for WSU's defense to control, and the group has yet to face a quarterback with Locker's size and speed. • 3 names to know JERMAINE KEARSE WASHINGTON RECEIVER The sophomore had just one catch for 5 yards in this game last year, but expect him to pass that total in Washington's first possession. He's become Jake Locker's go-to receiver, with six touchdowns among his 39 catches for 625 yards. Included in that total are two receptions on the game-winning drive against USC. And the 6-foot-2, 198-pounder has been on a roll of late, with two touchdown catches in back-to-back games vs. UCLA and Oregon State.

ANDY MATTINGLY WSU LINEBACKER It's hard to believe – especially for Mattingly – but this will be the final game in a Washington State uniform for the Mead High graduate. Mattingly, who came out of high school as a safety, played linebacker for his first two years in Pullman and defensive end last year before returning to linebacker this one, will have played in 46 games, starting 22 of them. The 6-4, 249-pound Mattingly has 211 career tackles, including 66 this year. Playing the strongside, Mattingly has yet to record a sack this season after posting a career high eight as a sophomore. MASON FOSTER WASHINGTON LINEBACKER Foster might be the most hated guy in Tucson, after his 37-yard interception return against Arizona turned the game in the Huskies' favor as time was running out. But the 6-2, 244-pound outside linebacker has been tough all season. Has been in double figures in tackles twice, including that game with the Wildcats (11).

The other came two weeks ago against Oregon State (10), in which he had 2.5 for loss and forced a fumble. He's second on the team with 72 tackles and two sacks. • This and that from today's game … Xavier Hicks and Andy Mattingly have an interesting battle going on. The two seniors each have more than 200 career tackles (Hicks, 216; Mattingly, 211) going into their final game. ... Dwight Tardy leads WSU in rushing with 380 yards. Though that is the lowest total of his career – he's gained 667, 676 and 481, respectively, coming into the season – it still leads the Cougars. He will become the first WSU player to lead the team in rushing four consecutive seasons, though the school's records don't cover some of the early teams. ... UW redshirt freshman Chris Polk needs 111 rushing yards to be the first of his class to go over 1,000 yards in UW history. ... The Huskies have started nine true or redshirt freshmen this year.

WSU has started 13. ... Four Cougars are out today due to concussions: tight end Tony Thompson, guards B.J. Guerra and Brian Danaher, receiver Johnny Forzani and defensive lineman Dan Spitz. Due to injuries or suspensions, WSU coach Paul Wulff expects to suit up less than 50 non-redshirting players. ••••• • That's it for now. We'll be back soon with the basketball game story. Until then … Posted Nov. 27, 2009, 8:45 p.m.

Question: Saturday is the annual football game between UW and WSU. For what do they compete?
Answer: The Apple Cup